Namibia (1), South Africa (3) & USA (most Western States, including AK & HI). Too bad spear fishing is not called "fish hunting" or, I could add a few extra countries (couldn't resist weaving that in somehow, sorry).

Would your Dad consider the Ruger #1 in .308?
I'm ambidextrous and I enjoy the #1s because they are like me.
Generally speaking, Ruger has been putting better than average looking walnut on their single shots.
Also, the factory scope rings for them are quite sturdy.
A hunting partner of mine here has taken one over to Africa, with a 4x scope in factory rings for PG and enjoyed nothing but complete success with that outfit (caliber 9.3x74R).

we hadn't considered a Ruger #1, ill run the idea past my dad. what kind of out of the box accuracy can one expect out of a Ruger #1?

it looks like he might be giving up on the 308 and settling for a 30-06 (not that there is any thing wrong with the 30-06). hes finding more choices in rifles chambered in 30-06 then 308.

-matt

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Matt85,

In the 1970s, the #1 (and Model 77s as well) were a real roll of the dice for accuracy.
Some were and some were not.
When you bought one, you always said a prayer before firing your fist group with it, in hopes that God would have mercy on you for not choosing the consistently accurate Remington model 700 instead.
However, for about 30+ years now Ruger seems to be putting accurate barrels on all their hunting rifles.
The #1 generally will shoot right in there with their bolt actions, (sometimes better due to the superior trigger in them compared to the so-so Mod 77 trigger).

Incidentally, my pal with the #1 in 9.3 always de-activates the ejector in all his #1s so it is silent when he opens the action to load it (PH's do not like us clients walking behind them with a round in the chamber until the final moments of a stalk).
In this regard, the #1 has a definite advantage over the rather noisy-to-chamber-a-round bolt action.

If you email your PH about this subject, I predict that he (or she) will sing happy songs about the .308 and the .30-06, as well as the Ruger #1 rifle for PG hunting.
Both cartridges are popular in Africa for PG and they're effective, within the scope of most PG animal sizes, tenacity and hunting conditions.
However, the .30-06 is slightly superior for African animals (IMO), due to its happy relationship with 220 grain bullets at 2400 fps.
No doubt that load was designed with the Trilogy of truly "big game" in mind -Africa, Alaska and Canada.

That being said, my aging and foggy memory indicates that you and your PH both dig on TSX or TTSX or whatever they are called, type bullets.
If I have the wrong guy, please forgive and chalk it up to my long and fragmenting tusks.
But if that is so, first ask said PH what weight TSX or TTSX he recommends (my personal policy is to do as much of what my PH suggests, as I possibly can because he has hunted there all his life, therefore he knows what the heck he's talking about).

Encourage your Dad, to try whatever bullet that your PH recommends for accuracy.
If accurate, then practice from sticks with it and also standing unsupported ("off hand").
He should practice, practice, practice and then practice some more.
A #1 will not be harmed by dry firing it but I like snap caps for this, because it builds memory for loading and unloading my rifles in the bush, without having to look down at my rifle (I had to make my own for one of my oddball caliber rifles).

When I used the PHs .30-06 Mauser, the 220 gr Hornady at 2400 fps, it was a death ray but, I know that I am (that PH is as well) an old fashioned / "If it works, don't fix it" type of person.

However, last but not least, (FINALLY! ... geeze) if stuck with factory loaded ammunition, and your PH has no preferences / objections, IMO your Pops cannot possibly go wrong with 180 gr Swift A-Frames in .30-06 (probably available in .308 as well, but not sure).
I think Remington and or Federal (perhaps others) offer this bullet in their live / factory ammunition line.
(Haven't seen .30 A-Frame in heavier grains with factory live ammunition unfortunately).

Damn, this is a long rant, and if it was not so elementary/dull, it'd be a novel.

your partially correct, my PH is a big fan of both the Barnes TSX and GS custom bullets. the jury is still out on them for me as I haven't tried them on living targets. im a big fan of both Hornady round nose bullets and Swift A-frames for living targets. however, I might try the Barnes TSX on my upcoming buffalo hunt since my PH likes them so much. my PH also prefers lighter bullets to heavy bullets when it comes to solid copper bullets. he was just telling me about a number of buffalo hes already had people take this year using a 375 H&H loaded with a 200gr GS custom. I think he recommended bullets in the weight range of 150-160gr for the 308/30-06 if using solid copper bullets.

-matt

"A buffalo could probably be taken with a well placed frozen herring but, the question is: "What's the point"?" -Velo Dog

your partially correct, my PH is a big fan of both the Barnes TSX and GS custom bullets. the jury is still out on them for me as I haven't tried them on living targets. im a big fan of both Hornady round nose bullets and Swift A-frames for living targets. however, I might try the Barnes TSX on my upcoming buffalo hunt since my PH likes them so much. my PH also prefers lighter bullets to heavy bullets when it comes to solid copper bullets. he was just telling me about a number of buffalo hes already had people take this year using a 375 H&H loaded with a 200gr GS custom. I think he recommended bullets in the weight range of 150-160gr for the 308/30-06 if using solid copper bullets.

-matt

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Matt85,

Not being familiar with GS Custom bullets, I have no opinion of them.
Generally speaking though, a client abiding within the PH's suggestions is just good policy.
Copper being harder than lead, it makes perfect sense that lighter/faster is better for them to help deform on impact.

I've never had a RNSP of any brand fail to mushroom, (except on the tiniest animals) or fail in any other way on North Am. game or Africa PG and I have shot a pile of such animals with them.
One guy here sent a photo of a doe deer he shot with 300 gr DGX - technically a Hornady RNSP, (albeit a steel jacketed/hardened lead alloy core one) wherein the bullet expanded prematurely or perhaps fractured.

At first he wrote that it was fired at about 2350 fps.
Then after I commented, he decided it was about 2550 fps, or something around there.
The entrance wound looked way different than anything I've seen on any animal from any brand of bullet weighing 300 grains and fired from a .375 H&H, much less what I'd expect from a steel jacketed one, with a hardened core.

Not saying he sent a pic of a doe hit with some high velocity cartridge/ light bullet combination or whatever, just saying that I agree with him that Hornady (and other brands) of cup and core bullets can over-expand, even a .375 H&H / 300 grainer vs a doe deer evidently, much contrary to my personal experiences with that specific cartridge and bullet weight.
He sent apparently the photographic evidence of same and admittedly, I can post no evidence to show that his experience was otherwise so, that is that.

You will get no argument from me that there are much better bullets out there for buffalo these days.

i have never used the DGX on animals mostly due to the extremely poor reviews its received. all the round nose bullets ive used have been in small bore guns. for example as far as im concerned one of the best 7mm bullets out there is the Hornady 175gr RNSP. the 7mm 175gr RNSP prooved both tough and reliable on deer here in the north west. it would shoot sub MOA out of my winchester m70 chambered in 7x57 and was easily serviceable out to 300 yards. sadly the idiots at hornady decided the RNSP bullet was somehow out dated and stopped making them . now ive got a new deer rifle on order (a Tikka in 6.5x55) to replace the 7x57 i no longer have. but sadly i doubt i will find any RNSP bullets to feed it.

as for the shot my dad is expected to make, my PH warned that the area we are hunting in will require a somewhat long shots. he told us to expect shots around 200 yards. a light weight TSX bullet should be very suitable for shots like this with a flatter trajectory helping cope with the distance.

-matt

Last edited: Jul 19, 2014

"A buffalo could probably be taken with a well placed frozen herring but, the question is: "What's the point"?" -Velo Dog

i have never used the DGX on animals mostly due to the extremely poor reviews its received. all the round nose bullets ive used have been in small bore guns. for example as far as im concerned one of the best 7mm bullets out there is the Hornady 175gr RNSP. the 7mm 175gr RNSP prooved both tough and reliable on deer here in the north west. it would shoot sub MOA out of my winchester m70 chambered in 7x57 and was easily serviceable out to 300 yards. sadly the idiots at hornady decided the RNSP bullet was somehow out dated and stopped making them . now ive got a new deer rifle on order (a Tikka in 6.5x55) to replace the 7x57 i no longer have. but sadly i doubt i will find any RNSP bullets to feed it.

as for the shot my dad is expected to make, my PH warned that the area we are hunting in will require a somewhat long shots. he told us to expect shots around 200 yards. a light weight TSX bullet should be very suitable for shots like this with a flatter trajectory helping cope with the distance.

-matt

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Matt85,

Rogerthat.
Fortunately I have a decent supply of Hornady RNSP and some RN FMJ as well in various calibers.
But unfortunately, I did not see this coming or else I would have bought many more before now.
My understanding of the TSX is that partly because they are a bit long for their weight compared to old fashioned bullets and partly because they reportedly need all the velocity they can get to expand properly, most folks agree that lighter is better for those specifically.
For all of that it sounds like your PH is tuned in when he recommends 150 to 160 gr weights for that style of bullet in .30 caliber.
If they shoot accurately in the rifle/rifles chosen, I bet that you and your father will make all one shot bags over there.

You are blessed to have a father who will go hunting with you.
My father liked sailing, golf and tennis.
Even when I was a kid, I'd rather have poured salt in my eyes than to have to play any game of any sort but, sailing was fun because I always dragged a line and lure from the little 2 person boat we had.
And when we would anchor anywhere within about 30ft or less depth, I would get in the water with my speargun (California).
Wasn't rare for me to provide at least part of our dinner.
To his credit, he often drove me and my friends out of the city (LA) so we could hunt or fish but he was clearly disinterested with hunting and fishing.
I appreciated what he did for me and my friends who perhaps were not so fortunate with their fathers.

You and your father are both going to flip when you see Africa.
Take a million pictures.

hunting, fishing, and guns... if you also like whiskey then we need to meet up some day and hang out! i think we would have no shortage of things to talk about.

on the topic of RN bullets, i recently scored two boxes of Hornady .416 400gr RNSP and one box of Hornady .416 400gr RN FMJ off of gunbroker for a nice price. these are the old RN bullets not the new DGX and DGS bullets.

-matt

"A buffalo could probably be taken with a well placed frozen herring but, the question is: "What's the point"?" -Velo Dog

hunting, fishing, and guns... if you also like whiskey then we need to meet up some day and hang out! i think we would have no shortage of things to talk about.

on the topic of RN bullets, i recently scored two boxes of Hornady .416 400gr RNSP and one box of Hornady .416 400gr RN FMJ off of gunbroker for a nice price. these are the old RN bullets not the new DGX and DGS bullets.

-matt

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Yes sir, we would have a big time for sure.
If you ever touch down in Anchorage, please let me know.
(A little Whiskey now and then is good for a man ... I said so.)

Velo dog beat me to it ! I use a Ruger No1V in 22/250 myself.
I went hunting for a left handed rifle and this was in a shop. After some consideration I put my money where my mouth was.
Handy things about the rifle are it has a tang mounted safety ala shotgun,easy to operate.
The ejector can be de tuned so there is no big Click on cocking or closing the action.
Although a single shot with a bit of practice it is possible to reload rapidly.
I did change the trigger for an after market Kepplinger but I am very fond of light triggers on my rifles and use double set triggers on my other rifles so don't let this put you off.
Out of the box accuracy was fine. Like any rifle a few boxes of different manufacturers ammo was digested to find the most accurate.
A No1 would be worth serious consideration and well,they are not ugly

Velo dog beat me to it ! I use a Ruger No1V in 22/250 myself.
I went hunting for a left handed rifle and this was in a shop. After some consideration I put my money where my mouth was.
Handy things about the rifle are it has a tang mounted safety ala shotgun,easy to operate.
The ejector can be de tuned so there is no big Click on cocking or closing the action.
Although a single shot with a bit of practice it is possible to reload rapidly.
I did change the trigger for an after market Kepplinger but I am very fond of light triggers on my rifles and use double set triggers on my other rifles so don't let this put you off.
Out of the box accuracy was fine. Like any rifle a few boxes of different manufacturers ammo was digested to find the most accurate.
A No1 would be worth serious consideration and well,they are not ugly

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Sika98,

I totally agree on the general good looks of the Ruger single shot.
Wish they put slightly linger barrels on them though but that is not a gigantic issue, only a small issue.
First caribou I ever shot (I think around 1984?) was with a Ruger #1 in .375 H&H / Winchester 270 gr "Power Point" bullet.
I am nowhere near as fast with a single shot as I am with a bolt action and faster yet (for two shots) with a double.
Nonetheless, I love single shots and the Ruger is an excellent one, from my point of view.
Great minds think alike.

I totally agree on the general good looks of the Ruger single shot.
Wish they put slightly linger barrels on them though but that is not a gigantic issue, only a small issue.
First caribou I ever shot (I think around 1984?) was with a Ruger #1 in .375 H&H / Winchester 270 gr "Power Point" bullet.
I am nowhere near as fast with a single shot as I am with a bolt action and faster yet (for two shots) with a double.
Nonetheless, I love single shots and the Ruger is an excellent one, from my point of view.
Great minds think alike.

Cheerio,
Velo Dog.

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Meant to say: I am nowhere near as fast ON THE RELOAD with a single shot as I am with blah, blah, blah.

not sure about my dad, but I would like a Ruger #1 in 458 Win. they have one at cabelas in the gun library but I just cant come up with the $$.

-matt

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My very best good friend here has a #1 that began as a .458 and is now chambered out to .450 #2 NE 3.5".
He's put two mercury cylinders in the butt and now it balances fairly well.
One of these years, he plans to take the rib off and install an island base, with express leaves.

My very best good friend here has a #1 that began as a .458 and is now chambered out to .450 #2 NE 3.5".
He's put two mercury cylinders in the butt and now it balances fairly well.
One of these years, he plans to take the rib off and install an island base, with express leaves.

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I think that gun would be interesting, the Ruger #1 in a .458Win would be brutal in recoil...without some modification.